Device for treating shoes.



T. F. WHELAN.

DEVICEVFOR TREATING SHOES. APPUCAUQN HLED'MAYH. 1911.

1,157,482. Patented 001. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Oct. 19,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. F. WHELAN.

oEvlcE fon TREATING sHoEs.

APPLICAHON FILED A Y Il. 19H. 1,157,482.

lFIG. 8

fini! FIG] MTN/55555 spective,

.of posts 2 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

THOMAS F. WHELAN, 0F KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO SAVODAY BCKCOMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

A CORPORATION 0F MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR TREATING SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application led May 11, 1911. Serial No. 626,536.

My invention relates to an apparatus for,

treating shoes during the process of their manufacture, and relates moreparticularly to an apparatus for moistening the toe portion of shoeuppers to facilitate their being drawn over the last into proper form.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an apparatusof the sort described which has a large capacity, which effectivelyprotects portions of the shoes not designed to be moistened, which maybe operated at a temperature suiiciently low to insure against burningor killing the leather by heat; which is compact in form and may beeconomically may be operated at low expense.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows, in pera shoe rack provided with aplurality of compartments embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 showsan end elevation of one of the casings or compartments; Fig. 3 is a viewin vertical cross-section through one of the shoe receiving casingsshown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal sectionthrough one of the shoe compartments, partly broken away, and Figs. 5,6, 7, vertical cross-section through various modified forms of shoecompartments.

Referring to the 4dr'awingsmore specifically, it will be understood that1 indicates generally a shoe rack comprising a series which supportshelves or shoe supporting members 3. In cooperative relationship toeach shelf is disposed a casing or compartment 4 of suitable material,such as sheet iron, and formed with the side walls 11, end walls 13 anda top or upper wall 13 which may be lined with asbestos or othersuitable material.

The casings or compartments .are gener ally in the form of asubstantially rectangular box or housing having the bottom porthe troughportion manufactured; and whichI 8, and 9, are views in tion nshaped toform a longitudinally -extending recess or trough 5, and the top portiondepressed toward its medial line to form a sort of division between therespective sides of the casing. The opposite vertically' disposed walls11 of the casing are provided with shoe-receiving apertureslZl whichpreferably are finished around their edges with some suitablenon-abrasive material, such as felt, which fits around the shoes andsuitably limits the discharge of vapor from the casing. y r

Extending longitudinally within the trough 5 is a suitableheatingelement (3 which may be in the form of an electrical resistance member,or a perforated steam pipe, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The ends of 5 maybe providedwith suitable openings 14, coperating with which is anydesired means of closure/ such as a rotary valve or damper 15.

1f desired the compartment 4 may'fbe divided, by means of partitionsT16, see Fig. 4) into smaller compartments or sections for the receptionof one or more shoes,-

or if desired, the openings 12 maybe proy vided with a suitable gate orclosure 20 (see Fig. 8), which ishinged at 21 and operable by a weight22 which causes the gate 20 to swing upwardly to close the opening 12and prevent the escape of vaperwheneversuch o ening is not occupiedbythe toe' of the s oe. The mountings of the casings 4;' may consist ofthe depending ears'` A9 in which are seated the set screws 10 which areada`pt`` ed to coperate with the ends of the shelves 3, thereby holdingthe casings firmly though removably in position.

It is believed that operation of the device will be obvious from theforegoing description and the illustrations.

It will be understood, the trough or recess 5 bein filled with water tothe desired level, that.r he shoes whose uppers are to be steamedy ormoistened, are placed with the toes projecting through the apertures 12,the shoes being supported on the shelves or supports 3. The heatgenerated or introduced by the heating 'element 6A causes avapor-ization of the water surrounding it, and this moist vapor arisingfrom the trough 5 is merged limwcvn Said colnfmrtlnvntg for con in nngshoe trefnting means. v 20 Eli. An apparatus of the dass dofqrribedfmprising :x pair of oppositcy arranged mlnpnrtxnents having* apertures,to receive the to@ portoml of shoe, :L support .for shoes ndjawnt andoutside euch connmrtment, und 25 :x trmnfh arranged intermediate saidcmnpurtnwnts und adapted tocontuin shotredting means.

En melnnnnv .vhcrmf hvrnntn :lx my srmtnrv in Uw personen of twowitnesses, 30 Urin* Nt?) rln' 01" Mimi, 191].

THOMAS F. YHELA N.

WLnrssvs:

M. I. SM rrn,

